How to Assess SOC-as-a-Service Factors, Benefits, and Challenges?
The significance of robust cybersecurity measures cannot be overstated, as cyber threats are becoming increasingly advanced. The alarming 236.1 million ransomware attacks in just the first half of 2022 speak to the urgent need for an effective Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS) solution. With organizations adopting SOCaaS, surveys reflect an improvement of up to 60%, reporting a reduction in response times to incidents and up to 30% in the security incidents reported, on average, within the first year of operation.
With the increasing trend, SOCaaS helps organizations address immediate security challenges and meet long-term strategic goals in cybersecurity management. Financial services are still the most significant target; cyberattacks are 300% more than other sectors. With the wide escalation of cyber threats, SOCaaS has become an essential enabler for organizations that wish to protect their assets and ensure business continuity in this increasingly digital world.
The big question arises here: How will you assess SOCaaS for your business requirements? What key factors must you consider to ensure it meets your organization’s unique cybersecurity needs?
Let’s discover the answers next.
What is SOC as a Service?
SOC as a Service (SOCaaS) is a fully managed cybersecurity service delivered via the cloud by a third-party provider. It offers 24/7 security monitoring, threat intelligence, incident detection, investigation, and response capabilities. The service is designed to act as a centralized security hub, analyzing and addressing cyber threats in real time across an organization’s IT ecosystem.
At its core, SOCaaS combines advanced tools, expertise, and automation to monitor identities, data, endpoints, networks, servers, and cloud environments. Through tools like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platforms, and Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR), SOCaaS ensures faster and more efficient responses to cybersecurity incidents.
Organizations need not develop and maintain an in-house SOC or hire special staff; instead, they can hire a specialized provider with expertise to ensure continuous protection against changing cyber threats. This allows the organization to focus on its core operations without compromising security.
How do you choose between in-house SOC and SOC as a service?
In the past, only the biggest companies considered a SOC. However, with ongoing digital transformation and a worsening threat landscape, it is becoming necessary for organizations of all sizes today.
Each organization needs to choose the appropriate SOC model based on considerations that include the cost and strategy for the overall cost structure. The organization wants to take the direction of outsourcing. If the entire organization is outsourced and the company cannot afford its in-house SOC, the remaining option for that organization would be to use managed SOC services.
Another critical factor is effectiveness. Studies have shown that a good metric for measuring overall security success is the mean time to contain (MTTC), or the time it takes a company to include a compromise.
Indeed, over the years, research has also shown that for smaller companies, the challenges of developing a solid SOC in-house, especially from a staffing perspective, are so great that outsourcing is often more successful when minimizing MTTC. However, a DIY, in-house SOC is usually more effective for large companies.
A comprehensive assessment must consider a range of other considerations, some organization-specific. At a minimum, consider the following:
- Availability of providers working in the geographic regions where the company operates.
- Availability of providers with expertise in relevant industries.
- Availability of providers with experience complying with relevant legislation, such as HIPAA and GDPR.
- A provider’s commitment to favorable staffing requirements—e.g., minimum experience levels for staff assigned to the organization’s account.
- A provider’s commitment to maintaining specific certifications.
How do you assess SocaaS providers, and what should you look for?
When you choose a SOCaaS provider, the right choice can make a huge difference in your organization’s cybersecurity posture. But how do you know which provider is right for you?
- Domain expertise: Select a provider with a proven history of handling security challenges peculiar to your industry.
- Advanced tools and technologies: leverage providers that use the latest technologies, such as SIEM, XDR, and SOAR, to improve threat detection and incident response.
- Customization and Scalability: Ensure your provider offers agile solutions that scale according to your changing organizational needs.
- Compliance awareness: Ensure that the service provider has expertise in handling compliance regarding HIPAA, GDPR, or industry-specific guidelines.
- Proactive threat intelligence: Top providers stay ahead by using real-time threat intelligence to predict and thwart possible attacks.
Carefully considering these elements will ensure the organization selects the right SOCaaS provider to meet the company’s immediate needs and help the business achieve long-term cybersecurity resilience.
How can ESDS benefit your business?
ESDS delivers effective SOC as a Service (SOCaaS) with robust security protection against growing cyber threats to protect your business. Our services involve 24/7 threat monitoring, advanced threat detection, swift incident response, and compliance management. Backed by certified security experts, ESDS assures that your business remains agile to cyber threats.
Key advantages of ESDS SOCaaS include:
- 24/7 Threat monitoring: real-time surveillance of a company’s network in search of proactively alerting the detection of threats.
- Expert incident response: Swift and effective responses to mitigate potential breaches.
- Scalable solutions: adaptable security measures to grow your business.
- Compliance assurance: Ensure HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR adherence.
- Cost efficiency: Reduce expenses on in-house security infrastructure and personnel.
Partnering with ESDS means leveraging state-of-the-art technology, actionable insights, and unparalleled expertise to safeguard your digital assets effectively.
Wrapping up
SOC as a service ensures robust cybersecurity defenses in the modern digital world. ESDS provides full, cost-effective, and scalable SOCaaS solutions to help businesses proactively detect, manage, and respond to cyber threats while maintaining compliance and operational efficiency.
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